New Arrivals
The Quality of Life
Philadelphia: Girard Bank, 1970. 85 pp. Approximately 5 3/4 x 8 1/4". First edition, first printing. Slip case is in fine condition; green paper over boards with black lettering to cover and spine, label paste-down on cover which has a tiny nick in it, insert from the Girard Company bank president laid in, in fine condition.
Per the laid in slip from Stephen S. Gardner, President of The Girard Company, this book was commissioned for James Michener to write in order to include it with the bank's 1969 Annual Report. Michener was given free artistic license to express his own views. Nine color reproductions of paintings by James B. Wyeth (son of Andrew Wyeth and grandson of N. C. Wyeth) were added to enrich the text.
Burning Bright
New York: The Viking Press, 1950. 159 pp. Approximately 5 x 7 1/2". First edition, first printing. Dust jacket is very good with minor chips and wear and does have the $2.50 price on flap, small closed tear on front top edge of cover. Original tan cloth over boards, red lettering on cover and spine, orange dye on top edges, bookseller's ticket on rear paste-down endpaper, very minor foxing to edges, otherwise in near fine condition. (Goldstone & Payne, A29a)
The form of this book is a "play-novelette", which is a play that is easy to read or a short novel that can be played. Steinbeck used this method experimentally in "Of Mice and Men" and "The Moon is Down" but this book is a more complete attempt at this form. While this book was not critically acclaimed, Steinbeck, as always, is a very vivid writer and bring his four characters to life in this play concerned with the timeless themes of love, jealousy, friendship, and the desire to have a child.
The Art of Virtue: From the Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin Begun at Passy in 1784
New York: Privately Printed, 1955. 39 pp. 4 1/2 x 7". LIMITED EDITION of 350 copies. Red paper over boards, with gilt title on cover and spine, original onionskin wrap torn and missing a few sections, some small stain on paper fore-edges only to several pages, otherwise, in very good condition.
This little book was made as a keepsake in connection with The Celebration of Printing Week, commemorating the 248h birthday of B. Franklin, Printer. It is primarily about his efforts at self-development. Turns out that young Benjamin was rather self-centered and headstrong and it was through cultivated personal growth, as relayed in this book, that he became more respected, diplomatic, and beloved.
Reglamento Provicional, 1834. A Facsimile Edition of California's First Book
San Francisco: The Book Club of California, 1954. 16 pp. 6 1/2 x 9". LIMITED EDITION of 400 copies. Red cloth over boards with decorative design on cover and gilt title on spine, sun-faded spine, unopened pages, pocket in rear contains facsimile of original text, in very good condition.,
Originally printed in Monterey by Agustin V. Zamorano in 1834, this little book tells of the provisional regulations for the internal administration of the territorial assembly of upper California. Basically, these are the constructive plans for a new constitutional system for Mexico, based on the one set up in the United States.
30th Annual Convention, The International Association of Printing House Craftsmen, Inc.: San Francisco, Palace Hotel, September 4-7, 1949.
[San Francisco]: n.p., [1949]. 5 x 7 1/2". First edition. Red cloth over boards with gilt illustrations and black titles and small design on front cover, endpapers are facsimile copies of pages 1 and 3 of San Francisco's first newspaper from 1847 and San Francisco's second newspaper from 1848, many black and white photographs, two pages of autographs of many of the attendees, in fine condition.
The IAPHC was founded in 1919 in Philadelphia as an organization whose purpose was for self-development, the enhancement of the printing and grapic arts industry, and their companies' successes. Held in San Francisco, the conventioneers were from the US, Mexico and Canada. They were treated to many lectures, awards, clinics (for example a Roll Leaf Stamping, Embossing, and Die Cuttung Clinic), and, of course, golf. Additionally, the ladies activities and entertainment included lunch at the Claremont Hotel in Berkeley, a tour of the jade display at Gump's store in San Francisco, and a tour of Chinatown.The two pages of autographs include well-known men of the industry at this time such as Oscar Pedersen, Tom Hislop and A. R. Tommasini. Only 2 copies listed in OCLC at this time. (8/16)
Andy Gump, His Life Story
Chicago: The Reilly & Lee Co., 1924. 183 pp. 5 1/2 x 8 1/2". Blue cloth boards with sun fading to covers and spine, small tear to upper spine, no dust jacket except for a small flap section that was pasted down on the front paste-down endpaper along with a label "From the Library of Harold Lloyd", in very good condition.
Robert Sidney Smith (1877 - 1935) was a cartoonist best known for his characters, The Gumps, who had a 42-year run in newspapers. Harold Lloyd (1893-1971) was a well-known American actor, comedian, film director and producer and stunt performer who was best known for his silent comedy films, particulary the scene in "Safety Last" where he is hanging from a clock tower. He was a contemporary of Charlie Chaplin and Buster Keaton.
Crumbs From The Master's Table
New York: D. Appleton, 1831. 192 pp. Approximately 2 1/4 x 2 3/4". Blue cloth over boards, paper label on spine, corner bumping with small portion of boards showing through, otherwise in very good + condition. (Bradbury, D. Appleton, 1; Welsh 4865).
Daniel Appleton (1785-1849) began publishing in New York in 1831 and his first imprint was this miniature book. There are two editions of this book, both with 1831 on the title page. One edition has numbered pages and "stereotype edition" on the title page. The other edition has unnumbered pages and no mention of "stereotype edition". It is not possible to know which version came first. This edition was 2,000 copies and was very popular as inspirational books had a good market at that time.
Portsmouth Plaza. The Cradle of San Francisco.
San Francisco: John Henry Nash, 1932. 464 pp. Approximately 7 1/2 x 10 3/4". First Edition. One of 1,000 unnumbered copies. Slipcase in fair condition with case cracked, tape repairs, original paper lable on spine; Vellum-backed marbled boards, some wear to board edges, gilt lettering on vellum, which is slightly dirty and peeling in a few places, interior is bright with no foxing, errata slip tipped in at rear, in very good+ condition.
A beautiful, privately printed book about the history of San Francisco with profuse illustrations by William Wilke (1879-1958), a San Francisco native. The author, Catherine Coffin Phillips (1874-1942) was an author as well as a printer, book collector and historian.
12 Correspondence Notes by Edward Gorey for New York City Ballet
New York: New York City Ballet, (ca 1975). Boxed set of 12 correspondence note cards illustrated by Edward Gorey. Four designs and three cards of each design, along with 12 blank envelopes. Enclosed in red cardboard box which has been creased on one side, a clear plastic cover with a small tear, lid taped shut with what appears to be the original tape when it was sold, so never opened, very good condition. Cards are in fine condition. (Toledano p. 159).
Gorey was a huge fan of the George Ballanchine New York City Ballet. He had an almost perfect attendance for the years 1956 - 1983. He would give back to the ballet by designing items that they could sell, including cards and buttons.
The Edward Gorey Bestiary: 1984 Engagement Calendar
Corte Madera, CA: Pomegranate Artbooks, 1983. SIGNED. Spiral-bound with glossy pictoral color illustration on the front cover, slight crease to upper corner, no manuscript entries, in near fine condition. (Toledano p. 157B).
This beautiful and unmarked engagement calendar is illustrated throughout with reprinted illustrations, in color and black and white, from a variety of sources including Gorey's books, posters, cards and etchings.